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FedUp
with FedEx:
How FedEx Ground
Tramples Workers’ Rights
and Civil Rights
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Fed Up with FedEx: How FedEx Ground Tramples Workers’ Rights and Civil Rights
By Erin Johansson.
© October 2007 American Rights at Work.
All Rights Reserved
KulbakoPhoto.com
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Table of Contents
2
3
6
8
13
19
25
27
Executive Summary
Introduction
The Growing Trend to Misclassify Employees
as Independent Contractors
Independent Contracting at FedEx Ground
An Anti-Civil Rights Atmosphere at FedEx Ground
The Anti-Union Campaign at FedEx Ground
Conclusion and Recommendations: Changing FedEx’s Course
Epilogue by Ray Marshall
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Executive Summary
America’s workers have fought
long and hard for workplace dignity and a fair
share of our nation’s economic prosperity. With the
help of leaders from the civil rights and labor movements,
workers have achieved passage of vital workplace laws guaranteeing important rights such as the right to form a union
and the right to equal opportunity. These laws have helped
to overcome workplace discrimination and improve living
standards, especially for women, minorities, and the working
poor, thus making America a more equal society. Today
some of America’s most respected corporations have begun a
sustained effort to exploit weaknesses in these laws and
unravel much of the progress workers have made.
FedEx Corporation is a striking example of a company widely
considered to be a pillar of American success and corporate
responsibility. Unfortunately, FedEx is contributing to the deepening problem of inequality in our society. FedEx’s troubling
labor practices are masked by the company’s globally-recognized
brand name and its reputation for both getting the job done and
being a great place to work. Most Americans remain unaware
of what has become an insidious pattern of anti-union conduct
and efforts to subvert labor and discrimination law that call
FedEx’s reputation into question.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and American
Rights at Work shed light on a disturbing pattern at the driver
delivery section of FedEx Ground, a subsidiary of FedEx
Corporation, in Fed Up with FedEx: How FedEx Ground Tramples
Workers’ Rights and Civil Rights. At the heart of this problem is
the claim that FedEx Ground misclassified approximately
15,000 of its drivers as independent contractors, placing them
outside the protection of numerous labor and employment laws.
Millions of Americans are classified as independent contractors
but essentially work as employees. Under the law, true independent contractors are supposed to enjoy entrepreneurial control over
the methods they use to do their work. But these misclassified
2
workers suffer the worst of both worlds: they are without meaningful control over their work and they are without the legal protections and benefits of employees. Nonetheless, employers persist in their misclassification, attempting to convince courts and
other agencies that their workers are independent contractors in
order to avoid their legal obligations to their workers.
Employee misclassification at FedEx Ground has thwarted
workers’ attempts to assert their workplace rights. Additionally,
significant violations of labor and employment laws have been
alleged against FedEx Ground. These charges and workers’
accounts reveal that when FedEx Ground drivers attempt to
form unions, they are subject to intimidation, interrogation,
and firings. Court cases filed by FedEx Ground drivers allege
workplace discrimination and harassment, including ongoing
racial and ethnic slurs. As purported independent contractors,
and not employees, drivers must first undergo long, expensive,
and arduous court processes to prove that they are in fact
employees of FedEx Ground before they can begin to seek
redress for violations of their civil or workers’ rights.
This report exposes pernicious and widespread use of misclassification at FedEx Ground, which tramples workers’
rights and civil rights. It concludes with recommendations
for the redress and prevention of future violations, including:
1. Urge FedEx Corporation to comply in good faith with
labor laws.
2. Increase public awareness to make corporations more
accountable for undermining America’s promise of equality
and economic advancement.
3. Pass the Employee Free Choice Act to better protect the
freedom to form unions.
4. Improve enforcement of existing laws, encourage federal
and state legislatures and agencies to close loopholes, and
enact strong new protections for workers.
5. Improve procedures and increase congressional oversight
of the National Labor Relations Board.
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Introduction
Fifty years ago, the nation’s first
modern civil rights act passed as a result of cooperative efforts between men and women of both the civil
rights movement and America’s labor organizations. This
However, these important gains are now jeopardized by a
new era of race-to-the-bottom policies and insidious corporate attacks on worker protections. Some of America’s
largest, most prominent companies maintain a sterling public
was neither the first nor the last time that civil rights advocates
image despite their efforts to weaken unions and undercut
and labor activists would join together to right a grave wrong.
worker benefits. Hiding behind a veneer of glossy logos and
self-serving claims of employee-friendliness, many major
Working together, these movements helped pave the way to
American companies have suffered little public condemna-
the enactment and enforcement of labor and employment
tion or government sanction for their efforts to undermine
laws that make society more equal. Unions have been instru-
workers by exploiting weaknesses in our laws. As a result,
mental in passing civil rights legislation and helping to moni-
American society has reversed course, moving away from
tor workplaces for discriminatory practices. Labor unions
greater upward mobility and economic parity and toward
also raise the standards of living for women, racial and ethnic
economic stratification and a widening gulf between the
minorities, and the working poor. Meanwhile civil rights
haves and have-nots.
organizations have supported labor standards legislation and
have been strong advocates for labor unions. As a result of
The situation faced by drivers at FedEx Ground, a subsidiary
this cooperation, more Americans enjoy a greater share of
of FedEx Corporation, brings together American Rights at
our nation’s economic prosperity.
Work and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights to detail
how a respected corporation like FedEx takes advantage of
weaknesses in laws to undermine workplace protections.
FedEx epitomizes an American corporation in good public
standing,1 which nonetheless chooses to shortchange its workers through the use of dubious legal defenses and maneuvers.
3
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In particular, this report investigates FedEx Ground’s strategy
FedEx At a Glance
of misclassifying its drivers as independent contractors, which
places them outside the protection of most labor and employment laws. Independent contractors are, by most legal defini-
FedEx Corporation4
tions, supposed to enjoy significant control over the methods
Federal Express was founded in 1971; the corporation
was created in 1998, and rebranded as FedEx
Corporation in 2000.
by which they accomplish their assigned work. But many
companies abuse the independent contractor label to deny the
protection of workplace laws to workers who do not fit the
Revenue: $32.6 billion, FY06
definition. A class action suit against Microsoft thrust the
misclassification issue into the media spotlight nearly a decade
Workforce: More than 280,000 employees and
contractors worldwide
ago. The case resulted in a $97 million settlement and
Microsoft took voluntary steps to reform its system for classi-
Subsidiaries:
FedEx Corporation
FedEx Express
FedEx Ground and Home
Delivery
FedEx Freight
FedEx Kinko's
FedEx Custom Critical
FedEx Supply Chain
FedEx Trade Networks
FedEx Services
fying workers and compensating them for benefits lost.2 Yet,
the Microsoft suit involving 1,000 employees is dwarfed by
the potential case of 15,000 drivers classified as independent
contractors building against FedEx Ground.
Despite allegations of widespread misclassification, FedEx
FedEx Ground and Home Delivery5
Ground shows no signs of changing its course. FedEx
Ground told The New York Times last year that its model
Founded in 1985 as RPS (Roadway Package
System); rebranded as FedEx Ground in 2000.
“works for the company, the contractors and the customers.”3
Revenue: $6 billion, FY07 (includes FedEx SmartPost)
Numerous courts and government agencies have ruled that
FedEx Ground drivers are in fact employees, revealing that
Workforce: More than 65,000 workers, nearly 15,000 of
whom are drivers classified as independent contractors
6
Average Daily Volume: More than 3 million
packages daily
Operating Facilities: 29 ground hubs; over 500
pickup/delivery terminals worldwide
the company’s business model is a means to deny drivers
their workplace rights.
One major concern is the effect of misclassification on drivers
at FedEx Ground battling discrimination. Numerous cases
against FedEx alleging racial and ethnic discrimination and
harassment paint a disturbing picture. Arab-American drivers
FedEx Ground serves both residential and commercial
customers with pick-up and delivery services, Monday
through Friday. FedEx Home Delivery, part of FedEx
Ground, serves primarily residential customers Tuesday
through Saturday.
4
involved in a current Massachusetts case contend the company failed to act after managers assaulted and hurled ethnic
slurs at them. These charges echo revelations from a similar
case in California where the jury found FedEx Ground acted
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“with oppression and malice” in failing to stop managers’
hope to call serious attention to employee misclassification,
excessive harassment of two Arab-American drivers. Before
at FedEx Ground, and elsewhere. A number of well-respect-
drivers can begin to seek redress for violations of their civil
ed companies, like United Parcel Service (UPS) and AT&T,
rights, they must undergo long, expensive, and arduous court
not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk when it comes
proceedings to prove that they are in fact employees and not
to sustainable business practices which respect workers’
independent contractors.
rights and civil rights. FedEx Ground has the opportunity to
be a true, business leader, the question is, will it?
Moreover, FedEx Ground has used misclassification along
with other weaknesses in American labor laws to prevent
workers from forming unions. Federal charges and workers’
accounts reveal that when drivers at FedEx Ground attempt
to form unions to have a say in their work lives, they are
subject to an onslaught of retaliation: intimidation, bribery,
interrogation, and even firings. Drivers who overcome these
challenges are saddled with further complications on their
path to forming a union—the company delays legal proceedings by arguing the drivers are independent contractors and
ineligible to form unions.
Without a significant reform of labor law, FedEx Ground can
continue to violate its drivers’ civil and workplace rights with
near impunity. Many drivers never realize that they may be
entitled to legal protection because FedEx Ground tells them
that they are independent contractors. Others lack the ability
to engage in protracted litigation over their status. Meanwhile, union organizing drives are derailed as slow legal proceeding sap union momentum. With formidable financial
and legal resources at its disposal, nearly 15,000 workers are
left vulnerable by this corporate giant’s policies.
Just as the civil rights and workers’ rights communities came
together in the past to fight workplace injustice, American
Rights at Work and the Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights are now joining together to right a grave wrong. We
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The Growing Trend to Misclassify Employees
as Independent Contractors
Americans love the idea of
entrepreneurship—of being your own
boss and succeeding in business on individual merit and
initiative. For those who embrace these ideals, independent
In a 2006 report, the Government Accountability Office
(GAO) warned that “employers have economic incentives to
misclassify employees as independent contractors because
employers are not obligated to make certain financial expen-
contracting is an attractive career path. A report by the U.S.
ditures for independent contractors that they make for
Chamber of Commerce touts the advantages of being an inde-
employees, such as paying certain taxes (Social Security,
pendent contractor, which include “the opportunity to be one’s
Medicare, and unemployment taxes), providing workers’
own boss, exerting greater control over time and daily activities
compensation insurance, paying minimum wage and over-
…and [having] the opportunity to grow and expand their
time wages, or including independent contractors in employ-
businesses as they choose, ensuring greater financial security
ee benefit plans.” 9 Misclassification can save employers
for themselves and their families.” 7 And so these men and
upwards of 30 percent on payroll costs.10 According to a
women trade the benefits and security of traditional employ-
2000 Department of Labor report, the number one reason
ment for the freedom of being independent businesspeople.
employers misclassify employees as independent contractors
is to save on workers’ compensation taxes and to avoid liabil-
In reality, there are millions of Americans classified as inde-
ity for workplace injury and disability claims.11
pendent contractors by the companies they work for, but
effectively working as employees. These workers suffer the
Given these incentives, it is no surprise that the misclassifica-
worst of both worlds: they toil without the protections and
tion problem has worsened in recent years. In February 2005,
benefits of employees, yet are without the control over their
the Department of Labor classified 10.3 million individuals as
work that true independent contractors enjoy.
independent contractors, comprising 7.4 percent of the total
workforce—an increase from 6.4 percent in 2001.12 Hard data
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses several factors to
on misclassification is difficult to obtain, but in 1988, an IRS
test whether someone is an independent contractor. However,
model estimated the number of misclassified independent con-
the general rule “is that an individual is an independent con-
tractors potentially ranged from 187,000 to as many as 1.6 mil-
tractor if you, the person for whom the services are per-
lion.13 In 1994, a Coopers & Lybrand (now Pricewaterhouse
formed, have the right to control or direct only the result of
Coopers) report used IRS data to project that the number of
the work and not the means and methods of accomplishing
misclassified employees will have grown from 3.3 million in
the result.” 8 This general rule underlies most legal tests for
1984 to 5 million by 2005.14 The 2000 Department of Labor
independent contractor status. Given the exclusion of inde-
report estimated that 10 to 30 percent of employers misclassi-
pendent contractors from myriad federal and state employ-
fy employees as contractors.15 And a 2002 audit by the
ment laws, including those governing minimum wage, safety
Department revealed a 42 percent increase in misclassification
and health, discrimination, and freedom of association, the
over the previous year.16 The 2000 report notes: “A new breed
distinction between who is an employee and who is a con-
of accountants and attorneys has emerged to counsel employ-
tractor is crucial to determining a person’s legal rights.
ers on how to convert employees into [independent contractors] to reduce payroll costs and avoid complying with labor
and workplace legislation.”17
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One reason employers pull off such pervasive employee mis-
competitive disadvantage when competing for the same work.
classification, according to Rebecca Smith of the National
This also causes insurance and other rates to rise because there
Employment Law Project, is because “under current law, there
is less money being contributed in total therefore burdening the
are only limited penalties, reporting requirements, and com-
contractor who pays the appropriate taxes and fees.”19
plaint procedures that regulate employers who hire independent contractors.”18 There are also significant loopholes in the
Such extensive misclassification also costs federal and state
laws that allow for such extensive misclassification. The IRS
governments lost tax revenue. Coopers & Lybrand used data
has a “safe harbor” provision which relieves offending employ-
from the IRS and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate
ers from employment tax liability both retroactively and
that the proper classification of all misclassified employees
prospectively, and from paying penalties, if they meet certain
would have yielded nearly $35 billion in federal tax receipts
requirements indicating that they “reasonably” misclassified
from 1996 to 2004.20 At the state level, a 2000 Department
their workers. If an employer is part of an industry where mis-
of Labor study estimated that misclassifying one percent of
classification is common, they can use that practice as an excuse
workers resulted in an average of $198 million lost annually
to qualify for this loophole. A lack of procedural rules and
to state unemployment insurance funds.21
information sharing within and among government agencies
allows companies to assert and reassert that their workers are independent contractors in different forums.
Those hit hardest by misclassification are the workers
themselves. Independent contractors are excluded
Independent Contractors Denied
Protections on the Job
from laws protecting employees from occupational
Americans may be surprised to learn that independent con-
hazards, minimum wage and overtime violations, dis-
tractors are excluded from fundamental protections offered
crimination, and sexual harassment. Without the right to
by many federal laws, including the following:
form a union under federal law, independent contractors have
little recourse to address their problems at work. Because
•
National Labor Relations Act (freedom of association)
they are ineligible for workers’ compensation, unemployment,
•
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (discrimination and
and disability benefits, contractors work without a real safety
harassment based on race, religion, sex, national origin and
net, and on top of this, they are rarely eligible for employer-
pregnancy)
provided health insurance or retirement plans.
•
Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage, overtime)
•
Occupational Safety and Health Act
Law-abiding businesses must compete with employers who
•
Family and Medical Leave Act
misclassify their employees. John Kendzierski, president of
•
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Professional Drywall Construction Inc., testified before a recent
•
Americans with Disabilities Act
House Committee hearing on how contractors who misclassify
•
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
their employees avoid payroll expenses that “add over 25 per-
Rights Act
cent to the cost of labor, putting us ‘legitimate’ contractors at a
7
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Independent Contracting at FedEx Ground
Labeling its drivers as independent contractors has been an
effective strategy for FedEx Corporation since it inherited the practice after purchasing RPS (Roadway Package
panies have union representation with the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, along with paid vacation, health
benefits, a pension, and overtime—none of which are provided to FedEx Ground drivers.
Systems, later renamed FedEx Ground) in 1998. By classifying nearly 15,000 drivers as independent contractors rather
FedEx Ground entices people to deliver as independent con-
than employees, FedEx Ground lowers its labor costs by
tractors with a pitch that conjures up the American Dream:
avoiding payroll taxes and benefits. This practice gives it an
“Independent Contractors at FedEx Home Delivery own
unfair advantage over competitors such as UPS and DHL,
their own business and work in partnership with FedEx. This
which have costs associated with hiring employees to deliver
opportunity requires an entrepreneurial spirit…. Come build
packages. UPS employs drivers directly, and DHL uses sub-
your business and be your own boss as you partner with
contractors who then employ drivers. Drivers at both com-
FedEx Home Delivery.” 22 Knowing that FedEx Ground will
A Tale of Two
Drivers
An Orlando Sentinel article profiled a FedEx Ground driver and
a union-represented UPS driver,
FedEx Ground Driver
UPS Driver
Annual
earnings
Roughly $50,000-60,000,
paid per delivery
$70,000, includes $26.17/hour
wage plus overtime
Job-related
expenses
Fuel, maintenance, other supplies;
cost of route/truck: $30,000
None specified
Health care
Driver can opt into plan with
some contribution from FedEx
Ground
UPS covers full cost of familycovered health insurance*
Retirement
Driver can opt into plan with
some contribution from FedEx
Ground
UPS pays into a defined benefit
pension plan*
Leave
Unpaid time off, based on
availability of replacement
4 weeks paid vacation, 1 week
paid for personal or sick leave
Job security
FedEx Ground can terminate
driver’s contract at any time**
Union contract mandates UPS
demonstrates “just cause” for
dismissal*
revealing stark differences
between two similar jobs.
Wessel, Harry.“Tale of 2 drivers,” Orlando Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2005: G1.
* “National Master United Parcel Service Agreement,” for the period of Aug. 1, 2002 through July 31, 2008.
** Estrada v. FedEx Ground, BC 210130 (CA Super. Ct. 2004).
8
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not be providing benefits typically afforded to employees, the
success at the company: “My goal was to buy other routes,
drivers interviewed in this report still enthusiastically signed
hire drivers, and build a sizeable business for myself. After
up. Dave McMahon, a former driver, was “sold on the idea
two and a half years there and [FedEx] changing my route
that he could grow his business, could expand his business,
once or twice, I said I’m not going to buy any more.” 29
sell his business.” 23 Donna Eickhorst, a former driver,
According to Bill Gardner, a current driver, the routes are
recalled how FedEx Ground sold the job to her: “You could
worthless because drivers have no control over them. He
make your own hours. You could make what you want
quipped, “I suppose someone could sell you the Washington
when you want. It sounded perfect.”
Monument.” 30
24
It isn’t long before new drivers discover their lack of inde-
The Operating Agreement also details how drivers are com-
pendence. From the start, they are unable to negotiate the
pensated, which includes piece-rate payments based on the
terms of their work as they are all required to sign the
number of packages delivered, a “vehicle availability fee” for
Operating Agreement, which is “presented on a take-it-or-
days they deliver, “core zone” payments based on the density
leave-it basis.” FedEx Ground gives itself “unilateral control
of deliveries in the driver’s area, fuel supplements if the price
25
over the termination” of the agreement.
26
Under it, drivers
of gas exceeds a certain amount, and various bonuses. These
are given a Primary Service Area and must deliver all pack-
rates are unilaterally determined by the company, though
ages assigned to them within that area, as well as any other
drivers have the right to appeal the core zone payments.31
area the company assigns.27 FedEx Ground has the right to
Because the majority of compensation is based on the num-
reconfigure that route at any time.
28
This reconfiguring led
Rudy Trbovich, a former driver, to give up on his dreams for
ber of deliveries made,32 FedEx Ground exerts enormous
control over a driver’s income when assigning deliveries.
“Truths” in Advertising at FedEx Ground
A recruiting brochure used by FedEx Ground pledges that the job “requires a minimal investment with limited
risk.”33 However, drivers are required to purchase their vehicle, which must be approved by the company. In
2004, the typical delivery van cost drivers $42,000.34 Drivers are responsible for maintenance, repair, and fuel
costs, though FedEx provides them with a minimal fuel supplement. They are also required to purchase and
wear FedEx Ground uniforms and place logos on their trucks. One federal investigation found that drivers
grossed $45,000 to $90,000—a solid income before expenses. Yet the investigation reported that after expenses, drivers’ tax returns indicated net incomes ranging from a loss of $474 to a profit of $22,902.35 Drivers interviewed for this report netted $30,000 to $40,000 per year.
9
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“We have to buy our own sweatshop.”
Bill Gardner, FedEx Ground driver, Wilmington, MA
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Since drivers must deliver all assigned packages, they have little
control over when and how much they work. Former driver
Paul Infantino described the situation: “You can’t just leave
when you want. You can’t say, ‘Ok, it’s my business. I’m going
to shut down the shop for the day’…You can’t do it, because
they’ll just terminate your contract.”36 To Cathy Curran, a current driver, the requirement to deliver all the packages assigned
has meant years of an excessive workload.37 She reported working a minimum of 12 hours per day, five days a week on average, and 14 hours per day, six days a week during the busy holiday season—all without receiving overtime.
FedEx Ground also limits drivers when they want to take
time off. They are responsible for finding a replacement to
drive their route, and the company must approve that driver.
When Bill Gardner’s son was involved in a serious accident,
time spent visiting him in the hospital meant Gardner wasn’t
able to complete his deliveries on time, and he couldn’t hire
his brother to take over the route for him because he was not
a FedEx-approved driver. To Gardner, the excessive workload, coupled with the huge financial investment, makes
FedEx Ground “a modern day sweatshop. But the older
sweatshops…were better because you didn’t have to buy the
sweatshop. We have to buy our own sweatshop.” 38
In defense of its contractor model, FedEx Ground cites the
department it created called Contractor Relations, which is
supposed to serve as a liaison between drivers and the company and reviews requests to terminate drivers’ contracts in
case managers overstep any bounds.39 Yet as one court ruling
put it, Contractor Relations “is nothing more than a mere
branch of management,” with any decision it makes “subject
to higher management’s approval or veto.” 40
10
Exposing the independent contractor
“guise” at FedEx Ground
In recent years, courts and government agencies have
debunked FedEx Ground’s misleading independent contractor model. In a major decision in 2004, the Los Angeles
County Superior Court ruled in Estrada v. FedEx Ground that
FedEx Ground drivers in California were employees, not
contractors.43 In 1999, California drivers filed a class action
suit arguing that they were misclassified and that FedEx
Ground owed them for the expenses they incurred as
employees. The Court found that drivers operating single
routes (excluding multiple route drivers) were employees,
and in 2005, ordered FedEx Ground to reclassify all its single
route drivers in California.
The judge who wrote the 2004 decision called the Operating
Agreement “a brilliantly drafted contract creating the constraints of an employment relationship with [the drivers] in
the guise of an independent contractor model.” 44 Among the
reasons the Court determined the drivers were employees:
• the company has the sole right to interpret the Operating
Agreement;
• drivers’ routes can be reconfigured without drivers’ say;
• the work drivers perform is core to the company’s business;
• the company controls who drivers can hire; and
• the company can effectively terminate drivers “at will.”
Given all the evidence, the Court concluded that FedEx
Ground “not only has the right to control, but has close to
absolute actual control” over the drivers. In August 2007, the
California Appeals court unanimously affirmed that decision.45
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FedEx Ground responded to the legal rulings against the
routes.47 The Court corroborated the allegation that the
contractor model in California by re-organizing its contractor
workers were not contractors as it concluded: “The undis-
workforce in that state in September 2007. Because the civil
puted facts show that the Drivers were dependent on [the
courts and state tax authorities have ruled repeatedly that sin-
company] for virtually every aspect of their job.” 48
gle-route contractors are in fact employees, the company will
terminate contracts with its 700 single-route drivers in
Government agencies have also weighed in on the issue. The
California after June 2008. These drivers will leave the
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) consistently rules
company or will be re-hired only if the drivers take on addi-
that FedEx Ground drivers are employees. Since 2005,
tional routes and become multiple-route operators. It
NLRB regional offices made such determinations for five
remains to be seen whether FedEx Ground will give the new
different terminals, and upon FedEx’s appeals, the Board in
multiple-route operators the entrepreneurial freedom of true
Washington, DC, affirmed the rulings in all five cases.49 And
independent contractors or whether they will remain misclas-
in the past year, the IRS has made at least two determina-
sified employees with neither that freedom nor workplace
tions that individual drivers were employees.50
46
rights. And it is unclear
whether the drivers hired
by the multiple-route
operators will be treated as
FedEx employees, or
whether FedEx will seek to
classify them as employees
solely of the multiple-route
operators and thereby
The judge who wrote a 2004 decision on misclassification
at FedEx Ground called the Operating Agreement “a
brilliantly drafted contract creating the constraints of an
employment relationship with [the drivers] in the guise of
an independent contractor model.”
deny them the wages and
benefits enjoyed by other
employees of FedEx.
FedEx announced no changes in its model in the rest of the
States also continue to expose misclassification at FedEx
country, though it is offering incentives to encourage drivers
Ground. A 2004 audit by the California Employment
to take on more than one route.
Development Department determined the company owed
$7.88 million in back taxes for misclassifying drivers over a
In 2005, a U.S. District Court in Washington state found
two year period.51 When the company appealed the audit, the
that two temporary drivers who filed federal and state wage
California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board denied its
and hour claims were in fact employees of both FedEx
appeal, writing, “The substantial control exercised by [the
Ground and of the drivers who hired them to work their
company] as a practical matter, its power to define satisfactory
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performance, the fact that drivers are not a distinct occupation
In what could be the largest case of misclassification in the
and their services are integral to the business favor finding an
country, FedEx Ground drivers from 30 states have joined
employment relationship.”
52
State agencies in New Jersey,
together in a federal class action lawsuit, currently being liti-
Massachusetts, Oregon, and Montana also recently determined
gated in the U.S. District Court in Indiana, where they claim
that FedEx Ground drivers were employees.
the company misclassified them as independent contractors.
53
The drivers demand that the company reimburse them for
expenses and benefits wrongfully denied them under
federal law, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act,
Driver’s Contractor Status
Adds to Widow’s Grief
and various state laws.54
Despite the recent spate of rulings exposing FedEx
Ground’s contractor model, shareholders may be
On August 8, 2006, 36-year-old Tony Marcellino was killed
unaware of the company’s potential liability. Brian
in a traffic accident while delivering packages for FedEx
Hamilton of ProfitCents, a financial research company, esti-
Ground. Marcellino worked for 11 years at the Stockton,
mates that if FedEx Ground had to reclassify all of its inde-
CA, terminal. In 2004, he testified before a California
pendent contractor drivers as employees, it could owe $1.4
Superior Court judge about how he was misclassified by
billion in payroll taxes, health insurance, and overtime—
the company as an independent contractor, noting that the
excluding the costs of retirement benefits and paid vaca-
company would not let him a wear an earring or ponytail,
tions.55 Hamilton told Forbes that FedEx faces “a significant
and that it reconfigured his route over his objections. He
financial risk,” but discloses little of it to its investors.56 In its
concluded that “it was obvious that I was not in control of
December 2006 quarterly report to the Securities and
my destiny.”
41
Exchange Commission, FedEx Ground dismissed any major
liability: “We strongly believe that FedEx Ground is not an
Because FedEx Ground classified Marcellino as an inde-
employer of these drivers and that we will prevail in these
pendent contractor, his widow and two young children are
proceedings. Given the nature and preliminary status of these
not eligible to collect death benefits awarded to the fami-
claims, we cannot yet determine the amount or a reasonable
lies of employees killed on the job through California
range of potential loss in these matters, if any.” 57
Workers’ Compensation Act. Instead, they receive half as
much through the company’s Protective Insurance Work
Accident policy. Marcellino’s widow, Terri, has taken their
case before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to
plead that her husband was misclassified and is entitled to
the state’s death benefit. She says that this ordeal has
“caused me enormous stress and financial uncertainty.” 42
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An Anti-Civil Rights Atmosphere
at FedEx Ground
Based on court interpretations, independent contractors are not protected under several federal laws prohibiting discrimination,
including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
does not train its managers to prevent and address such
behavior at FedEx Ground.62 Paul Callahan, a division vicepresident of FedEx Ground, testified that “we don't train
contractors, we train employees in the company. And we
protects against employment discrimination based on race,
talked to our employees about discrimination, about harass-
sex, religion, and national origin; the Age Discrimination in
ment, and—well, I have human resource managers in every
Employment Act; and the Americans with Disabilities Act.58
regiment in this company and that's what their job is.” 63
According to a 2000 Department of Labor report, avoiding
This lack of company policy surely leaves drivers more vul-
the costs of complying with these statutes, such as paying
nerable to discrimination.
damages for violations, is a primary reason employers misclassify their employees as independent contractors.59
While FedEx Ground and FedEx Express drivers perform virtually the same work—picking up and delivering packages,
Independent contracting creates
hurdles to drivers’ pursuit of
discrimination claims
often to the same customers—there are major differences in
how they are able to address alleged discrimination based on
Unlike their counterparts at FedEx Express, FedEx Ground
their employment status. Because FedEx Express classifies its
drivers who file discrimination claims must first challenge the
drivers as employees, they are automatically afforded protec-
company’s assertion that they are independent contractors
tions from discrimination under state and federal laws.
and ineligible for civil rights protections—an enormous barrier that could leave them in bureaucratic limbo for months,
Recently, African-American and Latino drivers and other
even years. Adalberto Garcia claimed FedEx Ground refused
employees at FedEx Express exercised their rights under the
to hire him because of his disability, but the company argued
law, alleging that the company discriminated against them in
that he “cannot bring a disability discrimination claim
job assignment, compensation, promotion, and discipline.60
because he was not an employee of FedEx Ground, nor was
The company tentatively agreed to settle the charges for $55
he seeking employment with FedEx Ground. The ADA does
million, and more significantly, agreed to name a third party
not protect independent contractors.”64 Garcia failed to dis-
to oversee widespread changes to its personnel policies to
pute the company’s assertion, and the judge dismissed the
avoid bias.61
case on that basis.65 Fortunately for four Arab-American
drivers who recently filed claims of racial, ethnic, and reli-
Drivers at FedEx Ground, who are classified by the company
gious discrimination, the Massachusetts Commission Against
as independent contractors, encounter a vastly different situa-
Discrimination was unconvinced by FedEx Ground’s faulty
tion. FedEx Corporation does not even have a policy against
contractor defense and determined that the drivers were
harassment and discrimination of independent contractors,
employees, allowing their case to proceed.66
despite having a zero tolerance policy for employees. It also
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KulbakoPhoto.com
Loay El-Dagany, Yasir Sati, Montaser Foad Harara, and Oukhayi
Ibrahim are drivers for FedEx Ground in Wilmington, MA.
“It was surprising to see something
like that at such a big company.”
F
our Arab-American drivers from the FedEx Ground
other managers.72 Though Ibrahim complained to
terminal in Wilmington, MA, allege that they were
Contractor Relations, he asserts: “Everybody knows but
the victims of racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination,
nobody does anything about it.” 73
and that senior company management failed to respond
to their multiple complaints.67 Loay El-Dagany maintains
In 2005, all seven of the Arab-American drivers who
a savings account through FedEx, and when he requests
worked at the Wilmington terminal were moved from
a withdrawal to send money back to his family, his man-
the southern location to the northern one, forcing them
ager, David Goyette,“always comments that I’m sending
to drive much farther for deliveries. At the new location,
the money to the al Qaeda organization or Bin Laden.”
68
Montaser Harara recalls Goyette telling him,“I believe
them.74 According to Ibrahim, before a union represen-
you are a terrorist.” 69 Harara also alleges that when he
tation election was held for Wilmington terminal driv-
was exiting a bathroom in the terminal, Goyette asked
ers, Rose “wanted to make sure we voted ‘no’ for the
him if he “was reading the Koran inside,” a particularly
union. And after [the vote] he said ‘I can’t trust Muslim
offensive statement for a Muslim.
people because they are liars.’” 75
All four drivers complained that managers assigned them
70
Having proven their status as employees before the
a huge workload—larger than the white drivers. Harara
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the
recalled being given 500 stops in one day—an impossi-
four drivers are now hoping to prevail in their discrimi-
ble amount of work, especially given that his truck only fit
nation claims in a case filed with a Massachusetts
71
14
the drivers allege the manager, John Rose, intimidated
packages for about 300 stops. The drivers complained
Superior Court. In reflecting on his experience at FedEx
that when they returned with packages they couldn’t
Ground, El-Dagany noted, “It was surprising to see
deliver, Goyette threw the packages at them, yelled at
something like that at such a big company…a big inter-
them, and even pushed Oukhayi Ibrahim in front of the
national company.” 76
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FedEx Ground drivers’ contractor status also leaves them
claim, because the Pennsylvania Human Relations
more vulnerable to retaliation when filing discrimination
Commission (PHRC) could still determine that she is an
claims. Days after Annette Craig filed a claim against FedEx
independent contractor and without protection from discrimi-
Ground alleging that as an African-American woman, she was
nation, and from what could have been retaliatory termina-
the target of racial and gender discrimination by her man-
tion by FedEx. When employees file a discrimination claim,
agers, the company fired her.
77
Craig took a risk by filing the
the law protects them from retaliation by their employer,
“I want to be treated by Federal Express
the way every other driver is treated.”
W
hen Annette Craig started as a driver for FedEx
Despite eventu-
Ground at the Philadelphia terminal in 2005, her
ally speaking to a
manager, Pete Adams, routinely diverted her from her pri-
representative
mary route to deliver through dangerous parts of
from Contractor
Philadelphia that required more customer signatures and
Relations about
took longer to complete. For six months, Craig, a single
the alleged dis-
mother, didn’t return home until after 11:00 p.m. and hardly
crimination and
saw her children. She claims that despite repeatedly com-
harassment, Craig said the mistreatment continued. In
plaining to Adams, he continued to assign her the difficult
October 2006, Craig was injured after being hit by a car
route, while giving more desirable routes and stops from
while delivering packages. While she was forced to hire her
her easier primary route to white male drivers—some of
own replacement to cover her route, she claimed that
whom were newer than she.
79
Leslie Walker
FedEx hired and paid for a temporary replacement for a
white male driver who fell ill during the same time. On
In her complaint to the Pennsylvania Human Relations
November 27, 2006, she filed a discrimination claim with
Commission (PHRC), Craig also alleges that Adams called
the PHRC. In the claim she wrote,“I want to be treated by
her a “baboon,” and when she reported his comment to a
Federal Express the way every other driver is treated. I want
regional manager, he told her to resolve it with Adams her-
to pay off my truck and make money without interference,
80
self. She also recounted how when she called Adams to
and, as a single mom, to see my children more often.” Days
tell him that she had to care for her sick daughter and
later, FedEx Ground terminated her contract.
couldn’t deliver one day, he allegedly replied: “This is why I
will not hire women with children.”
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regardless of whether or not they win their discrimination
claimants may have the right to appeal such rulings, those
suit. Now Craig is stuck in legal limbo, hoping the PHRC
who claim discrimination during the hiring process would
will determine that she is an employee in order to win civil
not have personal experience on the job to counter the com-
rights protections. In April 2007, the PHRC rejected FedEx
pany’s claims that they are contractors. Other claimants may
Ground’s motion to dismiss the case on the basis that she was
not be able to obtain legal representation to navigate a viable
an independent contractor, and has decided that an investiga-
appeal. At least in Annette Craig’s case, the PHRC deter-
tion is necessary to determine her employee status.
78
There is
no word on how long this investigation will take.
mined that an investigation into her employment status was
warranted, and that the Operating Agreement presented by
FedEx was “not dispositive in establishing that [Craig] was
Catherine Ruckelshaus of the National Employment Law
an independent contractor.”85
Project notes that misclassified independent contractors
“have a lot of barriers to overcome before you even get to
the merits of their cases.” 81 First, an employer may tell the
worker she is an independent contractor without protection,
and so she won’t even bother to file a claim; second, if she
does file a claim, the agency may simply take the employer’s
word that she is a contractor without pursuing an investigation; third, because an investigation into employee status is
fact-intensive, agencies may not have the resources or legal
guidance to reach fair determinations.82
Illustrating Ruckelshaus’ point are several recent discrimination cases filed against FedEx Ground that were dismissed
because of the alleged independent contractor status of the
claimant.83 The agencies likely followed normal administrative procedures in reviewing submissions by FedEx to make
their determinations. But the “evidence” cited was often the
company’s job posting or Operating Agreement which refer
to drivers as independent contractors; one agency called the
agreement “undisputed documentation” of the claimant’s
independent contractor status.84 Without the benefit of full
investigation and testimony concerning actual conditions and
practices, an agency may fail to understand the true nature of
the drivers’ relationship to FedEx Ground. Though
16
Few protections from discrimination for
independent contractors
FedEx Ground drivers who live in California or
Massachusetts are fortunate enough to have limited protections from discrimination in laws that don’t require them to
prove they are employees. The Massachusetts Equal Rights
Act protects independent contractors from discrimination.
And in 1999, the California legislature expanded the Fair
Employment and Housing Act to protect independent contractors from employment-based harassment in order to
“provide needed protections for the ever-growing numbers
of workers who are hired as independent contractors rather
than employees, and who currently work unprotected against
harassment simply by virtue of the contractual nature of their
work and their lesser cost to the businesses who hire them.”86
This legislation helped two FedEx Ground drivers win a
major harassment suit against the company in June 2006
without having to prove employee status.
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Independent contractors can file discrimination suits under Section 1981, part of the
post-Civil War era Civil Rights Act of 1886.
Because Section 1981 prohibits racial discrimination in "making and enforcing con-
“We thank God that the jury stood
up to the giant Federal Express”
tracts," drivers do not have to prove they are
employees to be covered.95 In Carey v. FedEx
In Issa v. Roadway Package Systems, two Lebanese drivers,
Ground, an African-American driver sued the company alleg-
Edgar Rizkallah and Kamil Issa, brought a case against
ing discrimination when he was denied a delivery route during the time that white applicants were awarded several
routes.96 A court allowed his claim to proceed under Section
1981, and the case was settled shortly before it reached trial.97
FedEx Ground alleging harassment based on their race and
national origin. According to the testimony of several drivers, managers physically assaulted Rizkallah and Issa; called
them “camel jockeys,”“sand niggers,” and “terrorists;” regularly commented about Lebanese bombs; and threatened
Section 1981 at best provides limited recourse for FedEx
Ground drivers. The law requires the plaintiff to prove discriminatory intent, not just disparate impact. It also requires
the plaintiff to hire a private lawyer to pursue the claim,
which many cannot afford, and only protects against racial
to fire them.87 Drivers also testified that the managers created a hostile environment for minorities.88 Issa testified:
“…over the last three or four years…I was harassed, I was
discriminated against, I was called names, and things that I
don't think anybody will tolerate in a work environment.” 89
discrimination.98 Neither Section 1981 nor the California
statute offer independent contractors the kinds of broad protections offered to employees under the various federal and
state laws.
When the men complained to senior managers, including the
Western Regional Manager for FedEx Ground, drivers testified
that the company did nothing.90 The primary perpetrator of
the harassment, terminal manager Stacy Shoun, was promot-
As case after case demonstrates, the independent contractor
classification at FedEx Ground poses major problems for
drivers who feel they are the victims of discrimination.
Drivers must surmount bureaucratic hurdles before federal
and state agencies will even consider the merits of their
claims—challenges that may dissuade many from even filing
claims.
ed by the company four times, and was still employed there
after the trial.91 In June 2006, an Alameda Superior Court jury
found that the company acted “with oppression and malice”
and awarded Issa and Rizkallah $61 million,92 which was later
reduced by a judge to $12.4 million.93 After the jury reached
its verdict, the drivers commented,“We thank God that the
jury stood up to the giant Federal Express and made a statement that we count, that we have rights, and that we should
Federal law also excludes independent contractors from the
right to form unions and collectively bargain, depriving them of
not be forced to work under conditions where we are treated
as less than human.” 94
the protection unions provide against workplace discrimination.
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A union contract offers fair and transparent guidelines for pro-
Ground drivers who want to organize unions must first prove
motions, wage increases, and discipline, eliminating much of
they are employees. And as the following section demon-
the bias and discrimination in these processes. If a union-repre-
strates, the drivers who manage to surmount this first legal
sented worker encounters discrimination, her contract provides
obstacle find an even bigger hurdle in the anti-union campaign
her with a grievance process to remedy the issue. FedEx
orchestrated by FedEx Ground.
After Serving His Country,
Driver Denied Right to Return
R
ich Farrell was a FedEx Ground driver for the Camden, NJ,
terminal. He also serves as a medic in the Army National
Guard. He was activated on September 11, 2001, and in
December 2003 Farrell informed his terminal manager that he
would soon be deployed overseas for six months.99 His manager informed him that they would hire someone to deliver
to his route while he was away. In January 2004, FedEx Ground gave Farrell 30 days notice that it would not
renew his contract, which expired the next month. Dave McMahon, a fellow driver, approached their manager and asked why Farrell was terminated. According to McMahon, the manager replied,“What do you
think we were going to hold his contract until he gets done playing Army?”100
After serving overseas, Farrell met with a military lawyer who informed him that since FedEx Ground classified him as an independent contractor, he was not protected under the Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The Act prohibits employers from discriminating against those
who serve in the National Guard or other uniformed services. If Farrell was classified as an employee, USERRA would have protected him from termination when he was deployed and given him the right to reclaim
his route when he returned.
Farrell returned home in January 2005 and was not able to find a full-time job until April 2006. He tried
calling his old terminal to inquire about getting a route, but no one returned his messages. He sold his
$40,000 truck on eBay for a mere $13,000. Farrell summarized his experience at FedEx Ground:“I kind of
took a beating.”
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The Anti-Union Campaign at
FedEx Ground
One may wonder why, if
Unfortunately for the FedEx Ground drivers seeking union
FedEx Ground drivers are unhappy with the com-
representation, they face similar retaliation by the company.106
This is not surprising, given the company’s long history
pany’s independent contractor model, they wouldn’t
simply quit. Bob Williams, a former driver, explains: “The
fighting its workers’ union efforts.107
truck is the hook. The reason why these guys can’t quit is
because they’re into a lease situation with the truck and they
FedEx has managed to keep its entire company union free,
can’t get out of the lease.”101 To address their working condi-
including 60,000 of its drivers, with the exception of its
tions without potentially losing their financial investment,
pilots.108 In 1989, shortly before FedEx acquired Tiger
drivers may decide to try to form unions—but this proves a
International airline, whose pilots were union members,
daunting task.
Independent contractors are among the estimated
34 million Americans—nearly one quarter of the
workforce—without the federally protected right
FedEx CEO Fred Smith told The Wall Street
Journal,“I don't intend to recognize any
unions at Federal Express.”
to form a union and collectively bargain.102 The
National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) expressly
excludes independent contractors, along with agricultural,
CEO Fred Smith told The Wall Street Journal, “I don't intend
domestic, supervisory, and other categories of workers.103
to recognize any unions at Federal Express.”109 In 1991, the
Because FedEx Ground classifies drivers as independent con-
federal government found that FedEx illegally interfered with
tractors, the company likely convinces many that they are
the representation election for the merged group of pilots,
without the right to form a union and should not bother
and ordered another election, where they then voted for
pursuing union representation. When Rudy Trbovich
union representation.110 In 1996, FedEx successfully lobbied
attended a meeting held by managers soon after his Fairfield,
Congress to keep its Express employees covered by the
NJ, terminal began organizing, he recounted how “They said
Railway Labor Act, which poses huge barriers to organizing
that FedEx’s policy, as well as their personal opinion, is that
compared to the NLRA.111 And FedEx Ground’s decision to
there is no benefit to unionizing and organizing and techni-
classify its drivers as independent contractors appears to be
cally…we do not have the right.”104
one more anti-union tactic. Philip Harvey, a professor at
Rutgers University, spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer about
Organizing a union is challenging enough for America’s
classifying workers as contractors: “As a tactic of avoiding
workers without having to prove they are employees under
unionization this is very effective. Organizing is much more
the NLRA. When faced with organizing efforts, 30 percent
difficult if it is not clear who the employee is.”112
of employers fire pro-union workers, 49 percent threaten to
close the worksite, and 51 percent of employers coerce workers into opposing unions with bribery or favoritism.105
19
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When employees who want to form unions are misclassified
benefits they had successfully negotiated for UPS drivers.
as independent contractors, they must first convince the
Almost immediately, 20 of about 38 drivers at Fairfield signed
NLRB that they are employees. All FedEx Ground drivers
cards supporting the union, and they petitioned for an NLRB
who have tried to form a union since 2004 have successfully
election.117 Yet Kain recounts the effect of FedEx’s anti-union
cleared this hurdle and been declared employees by the
campaign as time passed: “Guys started off gung-ho. You go
Board. These organizing attempts occurred at five terminals:
to the first meeting, the second meeting and you get 30 peo-
Fairfield, NJ, Barrington, NJ, Hartford, CT, Northboro, MA,
ple. Then the company finds out and by the third meeting,
and Wilmington, MA.
113
The NLRB rulings were based on
you get only 10 people.” Over four months after they peti-
several elements, including the fact that drivers performed
tioned with majority support, drivers voted against union rep-
functions essential to the company’s operations, the company
resentation. This experience is typical of NLRB election cam-
exercised substantial control over drivers’ performance, and
paigns; a recent survey of campaigns by the University of
drivers had no proprietary interest in the routes and little
Chicago at Illinois found that 91 percent of union recognition
opportunity for profit gain or loss.
114
The Regional Director
petitions were filed with the NLRB with majority support for
wrote in the Fairfield decision that FedEx Ground “confers
the union, yet by the time the election was held, only 31 per-
little entrepreneurial opportunities… [given] the Employer’s
cent of campaigns voted for union representation.118
unlimited ability to reconfigure routes without drivers receiving payments and by the Employer itself regularly obtaining
In response to recent organizing efforts around the company,
and providing routes at no cost.”
FedEx Ground sent a company-wide letter to all drivers,
115
warning: “a union would not be helpful to our mutual busiThough the NLRB eventually determined that the drivers
ness relationship,” and suggested drivers visit the anti-union
were employees, it took an average of 91 days from the day
Center for Union Facts website.119 But this anti-union pro-
drivers filed a petition seeking an election to certify the
nouncement was tame compared to the company’s targeted
union, to the day the NLRB Regional Director ruled on
anti-union campaigns when drivers at the Fairfield,
their employee status, and an additional 29 days until the
Northboro, and Wilmington terminals attempted to organize
election was held (excluding Northboro, where the election is
with the Teamsters, and when drivers at the Barrington ter-
pending). This significant delay exposes a problem with the
minal formed their own union, the FXG-HD Drivers
system: the more time that passed before workers could pro-
Association. It appears from interviews with drivers
ceed to a vote, the longer they were exposed to the vicious
involved that FedEx Ground orchestrated the same clearly-
anti-union campaign that FedEx Ground unleashed.
laid out plan to quash the union efforts at each of these four
terminals.
Mike Kain, a former driver from the Fairfield terminal,
explained how “the whole [NLRB] system is geared toward
the company, not the worker.”
116
Kain contacted the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, wanting the same
20
Elements of the campaign
The following are some of the ways FedEx Ground launches its
campaign to search out and destroy union organizing activity.
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1. Saturate terminals with anti-union propaganda
Once management gets word of workers’ organizing efforts,
the first stage of the anti-union campaign is to saturate the
terminal with anti-union propaganda. Dennis Lynch, a former driver at the Barrington terminal, recalls that once he and
his fellow drivers petitioned for an election with the NLRB,
anti-union posters appeared all over the terminal,
Dave McMahon, a former driver in Barrington, NJ, was
fired after showing his support for a union
including in the bathroom stalls.120 Rudy Trbovich
attended an early union meeting for Fairfield drivers
on a Friday, and by the following Monday, managers
the Kansas manager where he was staying in town. According
had saturated the terminal with posters.121
to Eickhorst, “when he told me the Holiday Inn in Marlboro,
FedEx Ground also distributed anti-union videos to drivers,
which is where we had our union meetings, I almost choked.
and according to a complaint filed by the NLRB, it “coercive-
Then I knew how they knew.”
ly solicited employees to appear in an anti-union video” in
Northboro.122 Lynch recalls that the company warned in the
Lynch similarly recalled seeing managers “all over the termi-
video “that FedEx could send boxes elsewhere, or even close
nal” once the union effort began, and they would ride with
the terminal at anytime, leaving drivers with their trucks and
drivers and inquire about the union effort. According to
no work.”
123
Trbovich, shortly after a union meeting, high-level manage-
The NLRB complaints charged the company
with illegally threatening to close the Barrington and
ment from Pittsburgh showed up and held a series of meet-
Northboro terminals.
ings with food for drivers at the end of the day.126 In a meet-
124
ing he attended, five different managers spoke: “They
2. Send in the managers
announced to us that they ‘know a group of drivers met with
According to drivers, high-level management from all over the
the Teamsters twice, they know which drivers.’” And in
country descended upon the terminals where union organizing
Northboro, Ken Flynn told The New York Times that FedEx
was rumored or underway so that they could spread an anti-
Ground added six managers who were primarily engaged in
union message. Donna Eickhorst actively supported the union
the anti-union campaign to the terminal.127
effort at the Northboro terminal. She estimates that managers
from across the country rode in her truck with her six times
3. Woo the drivers
over the course of three weeks, whereas before the union
Another element of FedEx Ground’s anti-union campaign
effort, these “service rides” typically occurred once a year.
125
On
attempts to address grievances to dissuade drivers from vot-
one ride, she was accompanied by a manager from Kansas.
ing for the union. Cathy Curran, of the Wilmington termi-
Shortly before the ride, one of her terminal managers had
nal, said: “Every little thing that you told [the company] was
called her the “ring leader” of the union effort, which caused
wrong, nobody cared about it for five years, and then all of a
her to wonder how they knew of her involvement. She asked
sudden they are fixing everything that they could possibly
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fix.” 128 She witnessed the company finally repay drivers for
testimony at the NLRB hearing to determine drivers’ status
payments long overdue, remove an aggressive manager that
as employees.132 He had volunteered to stick his neck out and
drivers complained about, and reconfigure routes to help
testify because he “knew there would be bloodshed,” and
drivers with the excessive workload. Curran’s reaction to the
unlike the other drivers, he didn’t have a family to support.133
company’s effort: “This is the best year I’ve ever worked for
But Dave McMahon, a fellow officer of the Drivers
this company.”
Association who has three young children, had already been
terminated shortly after a brief attempt to form a union at the
Dave McMahon recalled similar efforts at the Barrington ter-
Camden terminal in December 2004. McMahon recounted
minal, as managers helped drivers load their trucks and took
that after he was fired, managers told his fellow drivers that
people out to steak dinners to sway them against the
they “got rid of the cancer.”134 That organizing attempt ended
union.129 An NLRB complaint charged FedEx Ground with
after McMahon was fired, but he continued to help his fellow
unlawfully soliciting drivers’ grievances and bribing drivers
drivers in the union effort at the Barrington terminal.
with the promise of benefits to discourage them from supRick Lacina and Donna Eickhorst spoke about isolation at the
porting this union effort.130
Northboro terminal. Lacina recalled how a fellow driver told
4. Isolate, intimidate, and even terminate union supporters
him that after they spoke at the terminal, a manager immedi-
The fourth element of FedEx’s anti-union campaign is to iso-
ately called and asked the other driver what they were
late, harass, and even fire union supporters. Trbovich was
discussing, later telling him: “It’s in your best interest to
among several union supporters terminated
stay away from [Lacina].” 135 And Eickhorst
during the campaign at the Fairfield terminal.
recounted how a manager accosted her when
Trbovich attended a union meeting held on a
Friday. FedEx got word of the effort, held
“In the old days of FedEx, it was
‘people, service, profits,’ now it’s
‘profits, service, people.’”
meetings the following Wednesday, and fired
him the next day. He believes “they let me
go first because I was the big mouth of the
terminal…and I think they thought I organ-
Bob Williams, fired from his Northboro, MA, route, had
previously worked as a senior manager for FedEx
ized [the union effort].” He later settled
with the company through a private arbitra-
International Brotherhood of
Teamsters
tion. Mike Kain, a fellow driver, felt he was
forced to quit because of his union activities, and after filing
she spoke to people on the other side of the terminal.136
a charge with the NLRB, the company settled.131
An NLRB complaint charged that FedEx Ground illegally separated known union supporters from other driv-
22
Dennis Lynch, an officer of the union at the Barrington ter-
ers where they loaded their vehicles to discourage union
minal, was fired in March 2005. An NLRB complaint
activity at Northboro and Barrington.137 It also charged FedEx
charged that FedEx Ground fired him in retaliation for his
Ground with retaliating against Lacina by taking away his pri-
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mary route, and retaliating
“It’s good to know that every day,
regardless of what’s handed to you,
you know that the other guys are all
going to have your back.”
against Eickhorst by canceling her direct deposit.
138
Shortly after the NLRB
issued this complaint,
FedEx Ground fired
Eickhorst.
Cathy Curran, right, voted to form a union with her fellow
drivers in Wilmington, MA.
Bob Williams, another
union supporter at the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Northboro terminal,
worked as a senior manager for FedEx in the late 1970s, and
between the non-English speaking native’s English
had enjoyed working for the company. After retirement didn’t
language deficiencies and reading deficiencies of a
suit him, he went back to work as a driver. He quickly became
native English speaker.” 142
frustrated: “In the old days of FedEx, it was ‘people, service,
profits,’ now it’s ‘profits, service, people.’”139 He contacted the
Consistent with its strategy of delay, FedEx Ground appealed
union, testified at the NLRB hearing to determine the drivers’
the judge’s ruling to the Board, which in June 2007 over-
status as employees, and was fired soon after. An NLRB com-
ruled the company’s objections and certified the union. In
plaint charged FedEx Ground with illegally firing him in retali-
order to throw the case back into the legal system, the com-
ation for his testimony.
pany refused to bargain,143 forcing the union to file an unfair
140
labor practice with the NLRB. According to driver Bill
5. Challenge election results and stymie negotiations
Gardner, FedEx Ground has told drivers that they intend to
FedEx Ground also uses legal obstacles to stall union efforts
take the case all the way to the Supreme Court if they have
of its drivers. At the Wilmington terminal, despite the com-
to.144 Gardner described the frustrations drivers are facing:
pany’s anti-union campaign, drivers voted to form a union
“It’s been shocking. You have a group of people who want
with the Teamsters in October 2006. The company filed an
to form a union. They go by the book to form the union,
objection to the election, asserting that the immigrant work-
and you’re not going to let them form the union? It doesn’t
ers could not comprehend English and were misled by a
make any sense. Meanwhile, morale goes down the tubes.”
sample ballot distributed by the union before the election.
141
Driver Cathy Curran is still hopeful that they will eventually
An Administrative Law Judge overruled the objection, writ-
prevail, and in the meantime, “Everyone made a promise to
ing: “While the Employer here focused its attention on the
each other that we’re going to see this through together.
foreign born, reading difficulties, of course, are not limited
And we are. It’s good to know that every day, regardless of
to those with a non-English native tongue. Indeed, I do not
what’s handed to you, you know that the other guys are all
accept, as the Employer here seems to contend, that one can
going to have your back.”145
generalize that there is something qualitatively different
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were told that no one was going to tell them how to run
their business, and they would never sit and negotiate with
us…[and] by the time we were done with the election,
FedEx terminated every union supporter except for a few.”
He is now happily working as an employee, and union memRick Lacina has seen 15
people leave FedEx
Ground in Northboro,
MA, in the last year and
a half, but says he
“wouldn’t give them the
satisfaction” of quitting
ber, at DHL.
In Northboro, drivers are continuing to push for union repInternational Brotherhood of Teamsters
resentation, despite fierce opposition by FedEx Ground.
After settling with the drivers for proper compensation, the
Board has rescheduled the election for February 2008.
However, FedEx’s fierce opposition to the drivers’ union
In response to the anti-union tactics employed by FedEx
effort has taken its toll.148 Rick Lacina has seen 15 people
Ground, the NLRB issued complaints charging the company
leave in the last year and a half, whereas before the union
with unlawful threats, interrogation, bribery, soliciting griev-
effort, he estimates that roughly five drivers left the terminal
ances, creating the impression that it was spying on workers’
in five years.149 Yet Lacina says he “wouldn’t give them the
union activities, and harassing, isolating, and firing union
satisfaction” of quitting.
supporters.
146
The complaints in Fairfield, Barrington, and
Northboro were settled with compensation for the affected
By treating its drivers as independent contractors, FedEx
drivers, but with no admission by the company that the driv-
Ground forces those who want to form unions to first prove
ers were employees.
their status as employees. The time it takes for drivers to prevail at the NLRB further exposes them to FedEx’s anti-union
Those who were fired face few solutions, even if the com-
campaign. But the impact of this misclassification spreads
plaints are resolved in their favor. The legal remedy for a ter-
beyond these terminals. Because FedEx Ground still claims its
minated employee consists solely of lost wages and cannot
drivers are independent contractors and the lack of publicity
compensate for the frustration and humiliation of the job
surrounding NLRB decisions, drivers across the country are
loss, nor can it restore the energy of an organizing effort
likely dissuaded from even attempting to organize. And so
chilled by the effect of the termination.
15,000 FedEx Ground drivers toil without the freedom independent businesspeople truly enjoy, and without the freedom
Drivers at the Barrington terminal voted for representation
by their Drivers Association in December 2005 despite
FedEx’s anti-union effort there. As Dave McMahon noted of
the vote, “It was unbelievable how we prevailed after all
this.” 147 However, they were never able to negotiate a contract with FedEx Ground. According to McMahon, “We
24
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Conclusion and Recommendations:
Changing FedEx’s Course
FedEx Ground underscores the impact
of crafty legal strategies by employers to defeat
employee rights and suppress wages and benefits.
Misclassification of workers as independent contractors is an
2. Increase public awareness
The conduct of FedEx Ground and other major companies
to this problem has not made headlines or attracted much
public attention. Alerting socially-conscious consumers can
especially pernicious method, which denies civil rights protec-
generate customer-based pressure on FedEx, which will force
tions and benefits to employees, withholds federal and state tax
it to change its ways or risk losing some of its loyal cus-
revenue, and undercuts competition with employers who follow
tomers. Public pressure can also be brought to bear on
the law. Employees who miss out on the law’s benefits and pro-
responsible shareholders who can use their influence help
tections carry serious financial burdens and risks. In short, mis-
FedEx to treat workers justly.
classification costs everyone in the system.
3. Pass the Employee Free Choice Act
The extent of these practices is a growing problem at both
To better protect the freedom to form unions for drivers at
FedEx Ground and in the economy as a whole. FedEx
FedEx Ground and elsewhere around the country who
Corporation’s brand and reputation suffer little despite
encounter fierce resistance from their employers, Congress
FedEx Ground’s rampant misclassification of so many work-
should pass the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill would
ers for so many years. Dramatic steps are needed to address
grant workers union representation after a majority present
these problems at FedEx and other companies. Therefore, the
signed authorization cards to demonstrate their choice to
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and American Rights
belong to a union. This right to a “majority sign-up” would
at Work make the following recommendations:
have given FedEx Ground drivers union recognition at the
Hartford, Wilmington, Northboro, Fairfield, and Barrington
1. Urge FedEx Corporation to comply in good faith
with labor laws
FedEx Ground should cease thwarting its workers’ rights by
terminals when they first petitioned for an election at the
NLRB, preventing exposure to FedEx’s anti-union campaign
while they awaited an election.
manipulating the legal system. FedEx Ground drivers have
repeatedly been deemed employees, and not independent
The Employee Free Choice Act also includes a provision for
contractors, by legal tribunals. FedEx Corporation should
“first contract arbitration” to prevent employers from engag-
voluntarily classify FedEx Ground drivers as employees and
ing in “bad faith bargaining” and otherwise refusing to sign
bestow them with all the legal rights and protections to
an agreement. This provision could have provided the drivers
which employees are entitled. This would prevent drivers
at the Barrington terminal with the power to reach a contract
from being misled or discouraged from asserting their rights
with FedEx, despite the company’s apparent unwillingness to
as employees because they have been misclassified as inde-
bargain. Finally, the legislation would increase penalties
pendent contractors. It would also eliminate costly litigation
against employers who engage in illegal activity during organ-
hurdles for drivers who wish to assert employment claims
izing and first contract campaigns, potentially preventing the
against FedEx Ground, and time-consuming delays in union
slash-and-burn tactics used by FedEx Ground against its driv-
elections that drain momentum from organizing drives.
ers in the form of interrogation, threats, bribes, and firings.
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4. Improve enforcement of existing laws, encourage
closing loopholes, and enact strong new protections
5. Improve procedures and increase congressional oversight at the National Labor Relations Board
The NLRB must do a better job of guaranteeing collective
for workers
At both the federal and state levels, legislators must devote
bargaining rights at FedEx Ground and other employers
more resources to strengthening enforcement of the existing
where supposed independent contractors are organizing. In
law. A greater investment may even pay for itself when
case after case at each individual FedEx Ground facility, the
offending employers are forced to pay taxes owed, as men-
Board has ruled that the drivers are in fact employees.
tioned by the IRS in a recent announcement to focus on
Despite these rulings, drivers that sought to organize still
employer misclassification.
had to endure additional proceedings at which FedEx
150
Agencies must use the resources
they do have to perform more targeted audits of employers
Ground re-litigated the same issue, further delaying an elec-
based on industries where misclassification is widespread, such
tion and exposing drivers to the company’s anti-union cam-
as construction and trucking. The various agencies involved
paign. According to former NLRB General Counsel Fred
should also be encouraged, to the extent possible, to pool
Feinstein, “The agency should be able to find ways to inhibit
resources, share information and investigatory results, and
an employer’s ability to delay an election by asserting an
jointly remedy instances of worker misclassification.
already settled issue.” 151 Congress must look closely at the
agency to be certain it is doing its utmost to safeguard the
Officials appointed to enforce our labor laws must be willing to
rights of workers it is charged with protecting, such as using
protect the rights of workers with diligence and resolve. Recent
accelerated election and complaint-processing schedules, as
lax enforcement among executive agencies and departments has
well as discretionary injunctions to promptly stop unlawful
threatened to moot existing laws that protect workers from mis-
employer conduct during union campaigns.
classification and anti-union conduct.
.........................................................
In addition to greater enforcement of current law, federal and
FedEx Ground epitomizes corporate America’s use of clever
state legislators must act to protect workers regardless of labels
maneuvering and exploitation of legal loopholes to deny
as employees or contractors. One way to accomplish this is to
workers their rights and dignity. That such a well-known
enact a presumption of employee status for all individuals who
brand can get away with what appears to be widespread mis-
perform labor or services for a fee. Massachusetts and Illinois
classification of its workers indicates a serious lack of public
enacted such laws that place the burden of proving independ-
awareness and government responsiveness toward this prob-
ent contractor status on employers, giving misclassified work-
lem. American Rights at Work and the Leadership
ers access to key benefits and protections. Congress must also
Conference on Civil Rights call for significant labor reforms
close the loopholes in the Internal Revenue Code that allows
to ensure that the drivers who are battling workplace intimi-
pervasive misclassification and increase the penalties for com-
dation and harassment and lengthy, expensive court cases will
panies that misuse independent contractor status as a primary
have their rights recognized and vindicated.
means of employment.
26
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Epilogue
Introduction
By Ray Marshall
U.S. Secretary of Labor, 1977-1981
by unions,152 a declining percentage of private sector workers
actually have collective bargaining coverage. There are many
reasons for this mismatch between reality and what workers
Fed Up with FedEx documents serious threats to
legal protections for America’s workers, especially
the right to organize and bargain collectively. All who
are interested in strengthening workers’ rights, democratic
would like, including the NLRA’s weak penalties and basic
unfairness to workers, the National Labor Relations Board’s
reluctance to use its power to protect workers’ rights, and
the fact that union avoidance by legal and illegal means has
institutions, and promoting broadly shared prosperity
become both more acceptable and institutionalized by anti-
should support the recommendations outlined in this report.
union employers and consultants. A major objective of these
campaigns is to strike fear in the hearts of workers by show-
The 1935 National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) extended
ing them that not even the federal government can protect
this basic right to private sector employees and, like every
their bargaining rights from assaults by determined employ-
other advanced industrial democracy, the United States sub-
ers and their anti-union allies.
scribed to the principle that independent labor organizations, that represent employees at work and in the larger
The Carter administration’s labor law reforms were designed
society, are essential to free and democratic societies. Indeed,
to improve workers’ organizing rights by strengthening the
this principle has long been a basic tenet of U.S. foreign pol-
NLRA’s penalties and creating more fairness in representa-
icy, especially during the Cold War. There can be little doubt
tion elections by preventing tactical delays designed to erode
that free trade unions played important roles in the transi-
union support. These reforms had broad public and biparti-
tion to democracy in Eastern Europe, South Africa, Asia,
san political support as demonstrated by the fact that our
and the Americas. The United States also has joined most
bill passed the House of Representatives with almost a 100-
other countries in declaring the ability to organize and bar-
vote majority. Although we had 58 solid votes for passage in
gain collectively as a fundamental human right.
the Senate, we were unable to break a filibuster by
anti-union senators backed by solid business
Despite these acknowledgements, America’s workers have
opposition. Even those employers who
less representation at work and in the society and polity than
privately acknowledged the need to
their counterparts in other advanced democratic countries.
modernize the NLRA refused to
Indeed, despite polls showing that a clear and growing
openly support this legislation.
majority of non-union workers would like to be represented
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Introduction
It is ironic that the same forces that blocked our attempt to
Misclassifying employees as independent contractors comes
ensure fair representation elections now oppose the
at a time when workers’ ability to protect themselves has
Employee Free Choice Act on the grounds that majority
already been seriously weakened by globalization and court
sign-up, designed to preempt unfair campaigns and delay-
interpretations which have eroded worker protections. It
ing tactics, violates workers’ rights to fair elections. To para-
is predictable that the competitive advantage FedEx
phrase Alfred North Whitehead, to believe that NLRB elec-
Ground would gain from this subterfuge would cause this
tions are fair would require a temporary suspension of dis-
practice to spread rapidly to other employers, thus multi-
belief. The Employee Free Choice Act would not take away
plying the damage to the national economy.
employees’ ability to have elections, but it would moderate
employers’ ability to use delaying tactics and other actions
It is ironic that one of the factors causing FedEx Ground
documented in this report to intimidate enough employees
to argue that its drivers are independent contractors—the
to erode majority support for collective bargaining. What
technical ownership of their trucks—binds these employees
anti-union employers and consultants fear most is that the
to the company, just as indebtedness to the company store
Employee Free Choice Act would demonstrate that the fed-
bound workers to plantations, mines, and mill factories.
eral government could, in fact, protect workers’ free choice.
It has become fashionable in some circles to argue that
worker protections cause our economy to be less competi-
The damage FedEx Ground does to workers’ rights by mis-
tive in global markets. This argument is based on the belief
classifying employees as independent contractors goes far
that authoritarian management systems and low wages are
beyond employers’ fairly common anti-union tactics. These
the best way to compete. However, a low-wage strategy is
misclassifications would nullify the protections that the U.S.
a loser—it implies lower and more unequal wages and eco-
and other advanced democracies have extended to all work-
nomic instability, since there are always places with lower
ers. Wage and hour, anti-discrimination, occupational safety
wages. It would be much better, and more compatible
and health, pension protection, and unemployment com-
with democratic institutions, to compete by improving
pensation policies are all designed to protect employees
value added (i.e., productivity and quality).
from discriminatory actions by employers, as well as from
damage that could be done to workers, their families, and
A value-added strategy promotes broadly shared prosperity
the public by unemployment or substandard wages and
and stresses the development of human resources, high
working conditions. Some measures, like safety and health
performance organizations, worker participation, and con-
protections, prevent employers from shifting the costs of
tinuous innovation and improvement through research and
injuries and occupational health hazards to workers and the
development. This sustainable high-road strategy clearly
public. By maintaining workers’ purchasing power, labor
requires worker protections and social safety nets both to
standards strengthen the national economy.
facilitate effective employee involvement in workplace and
national decisions, and moderate management’s natural
preference for low-wage strategies.
28
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Endnotes
1 For a list of FedEx Corporation’s awards and recognition, includ-
Fraud and Error in the UI System,” National Employment Law
ing rankings on Fortune’s “Most Admired Companies” and “100
Project, Dec. 2003 <http://www.nelp.org/ui/federal/initiatives/who-
Best Companies to Work For” lists, Business Ethic’s “100 Best
letruth120203.cfm>.
Corporate Citizens” list, and Business Week’s “Best Performers” list,
17 Planmatics Inc., Feb. 2000.
see FedEx Corporation website, accessed 2 Apr. 2007
18 Testimony of Rebecca Smith, Staff Attorney, National
<http://www.fedex.com/us/about/today/awards.html>.
2 Dan Richman,“Former 'permatemps' at Microsoft get checks,”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 25 Oct. 2005.
3 Steven Greenhouse,“Teamsters Hope to Lure FedEx Drivers,” The
New York Times, 30 May 2006.
4 These subsidiaries include FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, and
FedEx Freight. FedEx Corp. website, accessed 2 Apr. 2007
Employment Law Project, Subcommittee on Income Security
and Family Support, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House
of Representatives, Hearing, 8 May 2007.
19 Testimony of John Kendzierski, President, Professional Drywall
Construction Inc., Subcommittee on Income Security and Family
Support, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of
Representatives, 8 May 2007.
<http://www.fedex.com/us/about/today/companies/corpora-
20 Coopers & Lybrand, June 1994.
tion/facts.html?link=4>.
21 Planmatics Inc., Feb. 2000.
5 FedEx Corp. website, accessed 2 Apr. 2007.
<http://www.fedex.com/us/about/today/companies/ground/fac
ts.html?link=4>.
6 Steven Greenhouse, 30 May 2006.
7 U.S. Chamber of Commerce,“Work, Entrepreneurship, and
Opportunity in 21st Century America,” May 2006.
8 Internal Revenue Service,“Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide,”
Publication 15, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Jan. 2007.
9 Government Accountability Office,“Employment Arrangements,”
GAO-06-656, July 2006.
10 Testimony of Catherine K. Ruckelshaus, Litigation Director,
22 1800Drivers.Com, Job posting by FedEx Home Delivery, website
accessed 2 Apr. 2007.
23 Dave McMahon, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
by Erin Johansson, 26 Feb. 2007.
24 Donna Eickhorst, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
by Erin Johansson, 28 Feb. 2007.
25 FedEx Ground Package System, d/b/a FedEx Home Delivery, 4-RC20974, National Labor Relations Board Regional Director’s
Decision and Direction of Election, June 2005.
26 Estrada v. FedEx Ground, California Superior Court, Los Angeles
County, BC 210130, 26 July 2004.
National Employment Law Project, Subcommittee on Workforce
27 FedEx Ground Package System, d/b/a FedEx Home Delivery.
Protections, Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of
28 Ibid.
Representatives, Hearing, 27 Mar. 2007.
29 Rudy Trbovich II, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
11 Planmatics Inc.,“Independent Contractors: Prevalence and
by Erin Johansson, 6 Mar. 2007. Trbovich obtained a route from
Implications for Unemployment Insurance Systems,” Report for
another driver, along with the three-year lease on his van, for
the U.S. Department of Labor, Feb. 2000.
$6,000. He testified before the NLRB that he believed he was
12 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,“Contingent
and Alternative Employment Arrangements,” Feb. 2005.
13 IRS Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program (TCMP), 1988,
reference in Government Accountability Office,“Estimate of the
Tax Gap,” GAO/GGD-95-59, Dec. 1994.
14 Coopers & Lybrand,“Projection of the Loss in Federal Tax
paying for the driver’s equity in the van. FedEx Ground Package
Systems, Inc., 22-RC-12508, Nov. 2004.
30 William Gardner, FedEx Ground driver, personal interview by Erin
Johansson, 6 Mar. 2007.
31 FedEx Home Delivery, a Separate Operating Division of FedEx
Ground Package System, Inc., 1-RC-22034, Sept. 2006.
Revenues Due to the Misclassification of Workers,” Prepared for
32 FedEx Ground Package System, d/b/a FedEx Home Delivery.
the Coalition for Fair Worker Classification, June 1994.
33 FedEx Ground Package Systems, Inc., 22-RC-12508, Nov. 2004.
15 Planmatics Inc., Feb. 2000.
34 Ibid.
16 Rebecca Smith and Andrew Stettner,“The Whole Truth: Employer
35 FedEx Ground Package System, d/b/a FedEx Home Delivery.
29
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36 Paul Infantino, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
by Erin Johansson, 26 Feb. 2007.
37 Cathy Curran, FedEx Ground driver, personal interview by Erin
Johansson, 6 Mar. 2007.
38 William Gardner, FedEx Ground driver, personal interview by Erin
Johansson, 6 Mar. 2007.
Department, Final Order in FedEx Ground decision, Ref # U17066; 1
Dec. 2005.; Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development,
results of unemployment claim for Robert Williams, employee of
FedEx Ground Package System, Docket 444088, 15 Aug. 2006.
54 “Nevada FedEx Ground/Home Delivery Drivers Join Nationwide
39 Estrada v. FedEx Ground.
Class-Action Suit for Justice,” Press release issued by law firms
40 Ibid.
representing plaintiffs in Alexander v. FedEx Ground, 27 Feb. 2007
41 “A Tribute to FedEx Ground Driver Tony Marcellino,” Stand Your
<http://www.fedexdriverslawsuit.com/pdf/Nevada_FedEx_Driver
Ground, Feb. 2007
<http://www.fedexdriverslawsuit.com/index4.html>.
42 Terri Marcellino, widow of former FedEx Ground driver Tony
Marcellino, personal interview by Erin Johansson, 2 May 2007.
s_Join_National_Class_Action_27_Feb_Release.pdf>.
55 Elizabeth MacDonald,“Mutiny on the FedEx Truck: Is a package
deliverer an independent contractor or an employee?” Forbes, 19
Sept. 2005.
43 Estrada v. FedEx Ground.
56 Ibid.
44 Ibid.
57 FedEx Corp. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Form 10-
45 Estrada v. FedEx Ground, California Court of Appeals, 31 Aug,
2007.
46 “FedEx Ground Says It Will End Contracts With Single-Route
Drivers,” BNA Daily Labor Report
24 Sept. 2007.
47 Tumulty v. FedEx Ground, U.S. District Court, Western District of
Washington at Seattle, C04-1425MJP, 4 Mar. 2005.
48 Ibid.
49 The National Labor Relations Board in Washington, DC, affirmed
the following decisions by NLRB Regional Directors in 2005 and
2006: FedEx Ground Package Systems, Inc., 22-RC-12508, Nov. 2004;
Q, filed 22 Dec. 2006.
58 Danielle Tarantolo,“From Employment to Contract: Section 1981
and Antidiscrimination Law for the Independent Contractor
Workforce,” 116 Yale L.J. 170, Oct. 2006.
59 Planmatics Inc., Feb. 2000.
60 Satchell v. FedEx Express, U.S. District Court, Northern District of
California, Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification, 14 Jan. 2005.
61 Nancy Montwieler,“FedEx, Plaintiffs Reach $55 Million Accord
Tentatively Settling Class Bias Allegations,” BNA Daily Labor
Report, 12 Apr. 2007.
62 Christopher B. Dolan, Owner of the Dolan Law Firm and attorney
FedEx Home Delivery, 4-RC-20974, June 2005; FedEx Home Delivery,
for the plaintiffs in Issa v. Roadway Package System, personal
a Separate Operating Division of FedEx Ground Package System, Inc.,
interview by Erin Johansson, 9 Apr. 2007.
1-RC-21966, Jan. 2006; FedEx Home Delivery, a Separate Operating
63 Issa v. Roadway Package System, Superior Court of California,
Division of FedEx Ground Package System, Inc., 1-RC-22034, Sept.
Alameda County, Testimony of Paul Callahan, Division Vice
2006; FedEx Home Delivery, 34-RC-2205, Apr. 2007.
President of the Central Division for FedEx Ground, June 2006.
50 Internal Revenue Service, Form SS-8 determination of employee
status, Case 37653, 12 July 2006; Internal Revenue Service, Form
SS-8 determination of employee status, Case 37346, 12 July 2006.
51 State of California, Employment Development Department, Audit
Report for FedEx Ground Package System, AAO #742, 22 Oct. 2004.
52 FedEx Ground v. Employment Development Department, California
Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, Decision in Case
1485661, 22 Nov. 2006.
53 State of Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Employment
Relations Division, Determination of Employee Status for FedEx
Ground Package System, Pick-up and Delivery Drivers,
03044ICCU_FedEx Ground, 22 Dec. 2003;“Update On Governor
Corzine’s Worker Misclassification Initiative,” New Jersey
30
Oregon Office of Administrative Hearings for the Employment
On file at American Rights at Work.
64 Garcia v. FedEx Ground, U.S. District Court, Southern District of
Texas, Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, 12 Apr. 2004.
65 Garcia v. FedEx Ground, Memorandum and Order, 26 Oct. 2004.
66 Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.“State Civil
Rights Commission Rules in Favor of Massachusetts Arab-American
FedEx Ground/Home Delivery Drivers,” Press release, 5 Mar. 2007.
67 Ibid.
68 Loay El-Dagany, FedEx Ground driver, personal interview by Erin
Johansson, 7 Mar. 2007.
69 Montaser Harara, FedEx Ground driver, personal interview by Erin
Johansson, 7 Mar. 2007.
70 Loay El-Dagany, Montaser Harara, Oukhayi Ibrahim and Yasir Sati,
Department of Labor Press Releases, 2006 <
FedEx Ground drivers, personal interviews by Erin Johansson, 7
http://www.state.nj.us/labor/press/2006/Corzine.htm>; State of
Mar. 2007.
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71 Montaser Harara, personal interview.
72 Loay El-Dagany, Montaser Harara, Oukhayi Ibrahim and Yasir Sati,
personal interviews.
73 Oukhayi Ibrahim, FedEx Ground driver, personal interview by Erin
Johansson, 7 Mar. 2007.
74 Loay El-Dagany, Montaser Harara, Oukhayi Ibrahim and Yasir Sati,
personal interviews.
75 Oukhayi Ibrahim, personal interview.
76 Loay El-Dagany, personal interview.
77 Annette Craig, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
by Erin Johansson, 12 Mar. 2007.
78 Craig v. FedEx Corporation, Pennsylvania Human Relations
90 The Dolan Law Firm,“FedEx Drivers in Harassment Lawsuit,
Landmark Civil Rights Case.”
91 Ibid.
92 The Dolan Law Firm,“California Jury Awards $50 Million In
Punitive Damages,” News release issued 2 June 2006
<http://www.cbdlaw.com/CM/Results/FedEx-News-Release.asp>.
93 Dick Dahl,“Lebanese-American FedEx drivers win workplace
harassment suit,” Lawyers USA, 2007.
94 The Dolan Law Firm,“California Jury Awards $50 Million In
Punitive Damages.”
95 Danielle Tarantolo, Oct. 2006.
96 Ibid.
Commission,“Commonwealth’s Reply to Motion to Dismiss,”
97 Ibid.
PHRC Case No. 200603793, 20 April 2007.
98 Lewis L. Maltby, and David C. Yamada,“Beyond ‘Economic
79 Annette Craig, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
by Erin Johansson, 12 Mar. 2007.
80 Craig v. FedEx Corporation, Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission,“Claimant’s Supplemental Statement of Facts,”
PHRC Case 200603793, 26 Nov. 2006.
81 Catherine Ruckelshaus, Litigation Director of the National
Employment Law Project, personal interview by Erin Johansson,
19 Mar. 07.
82 Catherine Ruckelshaus, personal interview.
83 Almuete v. FedEx, MD Commission on Human Relations, 1 Apr.
Realities’: The Case for Amending Federal Employment
Discrimination Laws to Include Independent Contractors,” 38
Boston College L. Rev 239, Mar. 1997.
99 Richard Farrell, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
by Erin Johansson, 5 Mar. 2007.
100 Dave McMahon, personal interview.
101 Robert Williams, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
by Erin Johansson, 26 Feb. 2007.
102 Government Accountability Office, "Collective Bargaining Rights:
Information on the Number of Workers with and without
2005; Ritter v. FedEx Ground, NY Division of Human Rights, 3 Mar.
Bargaining Rights," GAO-02-835, Sept. 2002; Forthcoming
2005; Diesburg v. FedEx Ground, NV Equal Rights Commission, 27
American Rights at Work report updating GAO study.
Jan. 2004; Baggett v. FedEx Ground, FL Commission on Human
103 National Labor Relations Act of 1935, 29 U.S.C. § 152.
Relations, 29 Oct. 2004; Byars v. FedEx Corp., CT Commission on
104 Rudy Trbovich II, former FedEx Ground driver, personal interview
Human Rights and Opportunities, 4 June 2004; Digioia v. FedEx,
NY Division of Human Rights, 2 Mar. 2005; Meadows v. RPS, WV
Human Rights Commission, 31 July 2000.
84 Byars v. FedEx Corp., Connecticut Commission on Human Rights
and Opportunities,“Notice of Final Agency Action,” 4 June 2004.
85 Craig v. FedEx Corporation, Pennsylvania Human Relations
by Erin Johansson, 6 Mar. 2007.
105 Chirag Mehta and Nik Theodore,“Undermining the Right to
Organize,” Center for Urban Economic Development, University
of Illinois at Chicago, report for American Rights at Work, Dec.
2005.
106 FedEx Home Delivery, 1-CA-42984 et al, NLRB Region 1 Order
Commission,“Commonwealth’s Reply to Motion to Dismiss,”
Consolidating Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of
PHRC Case 200603793, 20 Apr. 2007.
Hearing, 30 Mar. 2007 (Northboro, MA); FedEx Ground Package
86 California State Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Bill analysis
Systems, 4-CA-33635 et al, NLRB Region 4 Order Consolidating
prepared for hearing on AB 1670, California Civil Rights
Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of Hearing, 30 June
Amendments of 1999, 11 May 1999.
2006 (Barrington, NJ); FedEx Ground, 22-CA-26894, NLRB Region
87 The Dolan Law Firm,“FedEx Drivers in Harassment Lawsuit,
Landmark Civil Rights Case,” PowerPoint presentation by plaintiffs’ attorney, website accessed 4 Apr. 2007, <http://www.cbdlaw.com/CM/Results/Slideshow.asp>.
88 Ibid.
89 Issa v.Roadway Package System, Superior Court of California, Alameda
22 Complaint and Notice of Hearing, 23 June 2006 (Fairfield, NJ).
107 Blaine Harden,“Overnight Success,” The Washington Post, 22 Feb.
1981; Woody Baird,“First FedEx work contract in place, more to
come?” The Associated Press, 5 Feb. 1999.
108 John Boyd,“Strike Two for FedEx Ground,” Traffic World, 9 Oct.
2006; Steven Greenhouse, 30 May 2006.
County, Deposition of Kamil Issa,Volume III, p 29, 13 Dec.2002.
31
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109 Joseph B.White,“Federal Express's Plans for Handling Tiger
International Merger Anger Pilots,” The Wall Street Journal, 4
Aug. 1989.
110 Agis Salpukas,“Labor's Showdown at Federal Express,” The New
York Times, 7 Feb. 1993.
111 Woody Baird, 5 Feb 1999; for more info on organizing under the
Railway Labor Act, see American Rights at Work website
<http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/resources/facts/rla.cfm>.
112 Jane Von Bergen,“Santa's helpers feeling boxed in,” The
Philadelphia Inquirer, 18 Dec. 2005.
113 FedEx Ground Package Systems, Inc., 22-RC-12508, Nov. 2004
driver, personal interview.
132 FedEx Ground Package Systems, 4-CA-33635 et al.
133 Francis Dennis Lynch, personal interview.
134 Dave McMahon, personal interview.
135 Richard Lacina Jr, FedEx Ground driver, personal interview by Erin
Johansson, 26 Feb. 2007.
136 Donna Eickhorst, personal interview.
137 FedEx Ground Package Systems, 4-CA-33635 et al.
138 FedEx Home Delivery, et al, NLRB Region 1 Order Consolidating
Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of Hearing, 30 Mar. 2007.
(Fairfield, NJ); FedEx Home Delivery, 4-RC-20974, June 2005
139 Robert Williams, personal interview.
(Barrington, NJ); FedEx Home Delivery, 34-RC-2205, Apr. 2007
140 FedEx Home Delivery, et al, NLRB Region 1 Order Consolidating
(Hartford, CT); FedEx Home Delivery, 1-RC-21966, Jan. 2006
(Northboro, MA); FedEx Home Delivery, 1-RC-22034, Sept. 2006
(Wilmington, MA).
Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of Hearing, 30 Mar.
2007.
141 FedEx Home Delivery, JD-14-07 (2007).
114 Ibid.
142 Ibid.
115 FedEx Ground Package System, d/b/a FedEx Home Delivery.
143 David Mildenburg,“FedEx delivery drivers win union certifica-
116 Mike Kain is a pseudonym. Anonymous former FedEx Ground
driver, personal interview by Erin Johansson, 8 Mar. 2007.
tion,” Bloomberg News, 22 June 2007.
144 William Gardner, personal interview.
117 Ibid.
145 Cathy Curran, personal interview.
118 Chirag Mehta and Nik Theodore, Dec. 2005.
146 FedEx Home Delivery, 1-CA-42984 et al, NLRB Region 1 Order
119 Letter to FedEx Ground drivers from Paul Callahan,V.P. of Contractor
Consolidating Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of
Relations, 10 July 2006. On file at American Rights at Work.
Hearing, 30 Mar. 2007 (Northboro, MA); FedEx Ground Package
120 Francis Dennis Lynch, former FedEx Ground driver, personal
Systems, 4-CA-33635 et al, NLRB Region 4 Order Consolidating
interview by Erin Johansson, 28 Feb. 2007.
Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of Hearing, 30 June
121 Rudy Trbovich II, personal interview.
2006 (Barrington, NJ); FedEx Ground, 22-CA-26894, NLRB Region
122 FedEx Home Delivery, 1-CA-42984 et al, NLRB Region 1 Order
22 Complaint and Notice of Hearing, 23 June 2006 (Fairfield, NJ).
Consolidating Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice of
147 Dave McMahon, personal interview.
Hearing, 30 Mar. 2007.
148 FedEx Home Delivery, NLRB Settlement Agreement, 1-CA-42984 et
123 Francis Dennis Lynch, personal interview.
124 FedEx Ground Package Systems, 4-CA-33635 et al, NLRB Region 4
Order Consolidating Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice
of Hearing, 30 June 2006; FedEx Home Delivery, 1-CA-42984 et al,
NLRB Region 1 Order Consolidating Cases, Consolidated
Complaint and Notice of Hearing, 30 Mar. 2007.
al, Oct. 2007.
149 Richard Lacina Jr., personal interview.
150 Diane Freda,“IRS Entering Accords With States to Target Worker
Misclassification for Examinations,” BNA Daily Labor Report, 16
May 2007.
151 Fred Feinstein, former General Counsel of the National Labor
125 Donna Eickhorst, personal interview.
Relations Board, 1994-1999, personal interview by Erin
126 Rudy Trbovich II, personal interview.
Johansson, 26 Mar. 2007.
127 Steven Greenhouse, 30 May 2006.
128 Cathy Curran, personal interview.
129 Dave McMahon, personal interview.
130 FedEx Ground Package Systems, 4-CA-33635 et al, NLRB Region 4
Order Consolidating Cases, Consolidated Complaint and Notice
of Hearing, 30 June 2006.
32
131 Mike Kain is a pseudonym; Anonymous former FedEx Ground
152 60 million non-union workers would like to have a union in their
workplace. Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Dec. 2006.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Nichole Bauer, Ellen Buchman, Paul Edenfield, Beth Handy, Ray Marshall, and
Jane Norman, who contributed to the research, writing, and editing of this report.
American Rights at Work is a national labor policy and advocacy organization
whose mission is to fight for a nation where the freedom of workers to organize unions
and bargain collectively with employers is guaranteed and promoted.
Executive Director: Mary Beth Maxwell
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR), the nation’s foremost civil rights coalition, consists of nearly 200 national organizations, representing
people of color, women, children, workers, individuals with disabilities, older Americans,
people of faith, gays and lesbians, and civil liberties and human rights groups. Its mission: to promote the enactment and enforcement of effective civil rights laws and to
advance public policies that further the cause of equal opportunity for all.
President and CEO: Wade Henderson
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American Rights at Work
1100 17th Street NW, Suite 950
Washington, DC 20036
www.americanrightsatwork.org
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
1629 K Street NW,10th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
www.civilrights.org